THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9270, 4 August 1893, Page 6

THE REES-CADMAN CONTEST.

MR. REES AT THE CITY HALL.

AN IMMENSE GATHERING.

The final meeting of the present) electoral campaign attracted an immense gathering to the City Hall, last night, when Mr. W. L. Roes gave the last of his series of addresses to the electors of Auckland. By half-past seven the dress-circle was densely packed with ladies and the gentlemen accompanying them, and all the available accommodation in the stalls was fully occupied. When the proceedings commence! the largo building was crowded to the doors, numbers having to consider themselves fortunate in obtaining standing room. All the seats upon the stage were also taken up. On stepping on to the platform, Mr. Rees received a splendid ovation of applause and cheers. Mr. Thomas Gee occupied the chair. Considering the vast audience, and the keen interest that the present contest has excited, the meeting must be regarded as a most satisfactory one as far as order and fair play to the speaker were concerned. However, there was more than ono eviction, a gentleman in the dress circle after indulging in persistent interruptions being eventually shown out by the police, and a wellknown worker for Mr. Cad man who created a disturbance at the back of the stage being ejected. At tho conclusion of the meeting Mr. Rees was fairly inundated with questions, and some disturbance was caused by the ruling of the chairman that it was ridiculous to expect them to be answered. With the exception of an occasion unmistakable note of dissent, the speaker got a fair and enthusiastic hearing, and was warmly congratulated by his friends upon tho conclusion of the meeting. Mr. KKES, who was received with loud applause, opened his address by referring to the issue before the electors. He was glad that the people of Auckland were mindful of their duties and responsibilities, as was shown by the vast throng gathered before him to hear the last word previous to the election. The next day would tell. (Cries of " It will," and loud cheers.)

THE CLEAR ISSUE. What was it that Mr. Cadman had challenged him to submit to the Auckland electors? It was whether Mr. (/'adman's conduct, as explained by himself at the Napier trial, was such as to demand that the people of Auckland should put him, Mr. Rees, out, ami replace him by Mr. ('adman. (Loud cheers and cries of " X.") If not, why did he coma to Auckland? (A voice : To pub you out.) The question was whether a man in the great position of Native Minister should use his position to acquire native lands for himself. (Loud cries of "No.' - ) Was lie to be allowed to purchase lands from the natives at a low price and sell the same at an enormously higher figure? (Cries of "No.") At the trial at Napier, Mr. ('adman's statements were made upon oath, but he was not on oath at the City Hall. Hence, where the stateiunts conflicted, he would a-k them to give preference to his statement? on oath. Mr, Cadman's idea seemed to be that there was no harm in a Native Minister dealing in native- lands, provided that his identity as Native Minister was concealed. (Cheers.) Mr. Cadman had dealt at considerable length with certain accusations against him (Mr. Kees); but it was not his character but the character of Mr. ('adman that had to be considered by the electors. (Cheers, and a voice : " You can't get out of it in that way).

THE VERDICT OF THE .IfF.Y.

It had been said that Mr. Cadman asked the electors to endorse the verdict, of the judge and jury. But if he was satisfied with the verdict why did he appeal to them ? (Loud cheers.) It was absurd for him to come and ask them to vindicate him if ho hail no need of any vindication. As a matter of fact, after the verdict, unless Mr. (-'adman got. some constituency to vindicato him, politically he was a dead man. (Cheers.) The party in the House flatly refused to defend him, and his colleagues took up a similar position. (Loud cheers and uproar.)

A LITTLE BREEZE. At this stage, owing to the persistent interruptions of a man in ho gallery, a great uproar ensued. He was warned upon several occasions directly from the chair, but eventually the great majority of the audience would not be content until tho troublesome one was remove I by Constable Carroll. He was marched out amid loud cheers anil some groanings. Mr. Roes said that no ono regretted more than ho did that it. was necessary to remove any man from the audience ; bub a vast assemblage must not be disturbed by a few. He was very sorry for the conduct of ono of his supporters at tho meeting on the previous evening, and he took occasion to apologise for the same. (Cheers.)

MR. CtDMAN S PERSONAL ATTACKS. Mr. Rees then proceeded to state, that at the Ponsonby meeting Mr. Cad man had made a series of personal attacks upon him. He, Mr. Caiman had employed an immense army of touts to go about the city and beg for votes (loud cheers and uproar); and ho had brought outdid influence to hear, in the shape of telegrams from Danevirke and telegrams from Wellington—but what did they want with this outride influence, could they not judge for themselves? (Cheer.''). The Knights of Labour held no meeting at all at, Danevirke, and the telegram received by Air. Dines must have come from the otlicer in charge there upon hi- own responsibility. (Cheers.) Besides the working men there wore under tho thumb of Mr Smith. (Cries of "no" and uproar.)

VARYING STATEMENTS. Many of the statements made by Mr. Cadman on that (the City Hall platform) were diametrically opposed to what he had stated at the trial. (A voice : "That is old news.") No doubt it, was old news, but ib was very true. (Cheers.) It had been said by Mr. Cadman that there was nothing to conceal in this transaction, but that he told tho whole truth plainly to tho Court. He could not help it, for he (Mr. Kees), was there to examine him. (Loud cheers.) Ab tho trial Mr. Cad man's faco was like that of a man who had a bad tooth to be drawn. (Laughter.)

MR. CADMAN REFUTED. Mr. Rees then went on to refer to the offer made by Mr. Ball nice to himself of a portfolio, which ho (Mr. Rees) had refused. Tho statement had been made in the Hon-e; but had nob been contradicted by Mr. Cadman until Mr. Ballance was dead, and could not settle the matter. (Cheers.) Tho next points referred to were certain charges of a personal nature made on the previous evening by Mr. Cadman. That gentleman had stated that he, Mr. Roes, had risked his seat in the House owing to the nonroftinding of some live guineas, a sum which ho had been overpaid for travelling expenses. When the matter was men" tionod to Sir Patrick Buckley and others they burst into a fit of laughter at tho suggestion. Mr. Rees also explained the case of the Maori, Paora Parau. These statements, he said, were made by Mr. Cadinan not to vindicate himself, but to damage him, Mr. Rees. (A voice : " Hecan'tdo ft, wo know too much," and applause.) Anyono who said that he had urged the Ureweras to continue their obstruction was tolling a deliberate lie, and if the Nativo Minister, who had all tho means of information at his disposal, stated so, tho charge was doubly infamous. (Cheers.) Many people seemed to think that it was a Govern work that was being impeded, whereas ib was only a private survey very displeasing to tho natives, for the benefit of certain privileged individual". Mr. Cadman had stated that he (Mr. Roes) had abandoned certain of the charges prossod at the trial; but he did no such thing. He simply laid stress upon tho main charges, as the time was too short to go into all the charges, over which seven days wero spent at tho trial. Ho did nob abandon the others, but simply laid special stress upon the constitutional aspects of the caso.

A STRIKING CONVERSION. He was really astonished at the wonderfully rapid conversion of Mr. Cadman on the question of tho direct veto. Only a few days ago he had made an arrangement with the majority of tho brewers and publicans to oppose the veto. Ib was only when it was found that at least two brewers had declared that they would not be bound, and some publicans also stated that they would not bo fettered in a great question of political principle, that tho conversion took place. (Coeers and uproar.) They said tuoy might feel called upon bo unite in

the interests of the trade at the general election, but not in the present contest. (Cheers and dissent.) the native QUESTION. Mr. Rees then went on to deal with the native land question, and said that the matter would never bo on a fair way to settlement until the whole of tho present Acts were swept away, and an entirely new departure made. (Cheers.) The natives wore greatly grieved at tho lack of interest taken in their welfare by the late Native Minister, and deliberately refused to invito him to a recent Maori Parliament because of his persistent inaction, and yet he had more power and more opportunities to help them and give them justice than any other Nativo Minister. There was never in the history of civilised countries such a disgraceful state oi .'aw as tho condition to which tho native land laws of New Zealand had been brought. (Cheers.) Mr. Reos denied that Mr. Ballance was on tho whole opposed to his (Mr. Roes's) proposals. Upon tho question of committees and of the .central board Mr. Ballance was absolutely at one with him. Mr. Cadman's attempt to show the contrary was unworthy of a public man. (Cheers). OPINION OP THE CHIEF JUSTICE. Mr. Cadman, when asked at Ponsonby whether tho judge did not say that he had at least 'an indirect interest in the lands purchased by Mr. Smith, replied that he was not quite sure, as ho was not there all tho time. (Laughter). However, the judge had stated definitely that Mr. Cadman was at least directly interested. (Cheers). Mr. Hoes then explainod the manner in which tho jury arrived at their verdict, his remarks being loudly applauded. Ho (Mr. Rees) was determined that an inquiry should be held. He was not acting from personal feeling. (Loud cries of "Oh.") He was speaking the truth. (Loud cheers.) His statements to the electors of Auckland were not at variance with what he had stated on oath at the Napier trial. (Cheers.) Ho knew the risk he ran, but he had promised tho people of Auckland to cross for native land reform, and he would have failed in his duty to his party, his constituency, and the people of Now Zealand, had he refrained from attacking an abuse. Was he going to show the white feather? (Cries of " No.") No, he was not built that way. AN IMPEACHMENT.

In Great Britain when great officers of State were guilty of abusing their office they were impeached, as was Warren Hastings in the memorable words of Burke and Sheridan. In New Zealand there was no such means of impeachment. The only way was to impeach the man before his fellow-men and before the electors, and ho would impeach Mr. Cad man before them. He impeached him for using his political power for his own aggrandisement. He impeached him for using his influence in the acquisition of lands for himself, while a member of that very party which had ever professed to use its influence for the discouragement of the accumulation of vast areas of land by individual*. (Cheers.) Mr. Cadman said the other evening that at the end of throe months he had no further interest in the lands bought up by Mr. Smith ; bub the judge had deliberately stated that no matter what Mr. Cadman said ho was undoubtedly interested in every share purchased. Mr. Cadman asked them to reverso the verdict of the jury and the decision of the judge. Would they do it, (Loud cries of " No.") They were also required to vindicate Mr. W. C. Smith. Let them ask the people of Napier their opinion of that gentleman. (A voice : " Ask tho people of Napier their opinion of you.") Why twelve special jurymen had already given their verdict in his case. (Loud Cheers.)

CONCLUDING remarks.

The question before them was nob one of party interests, bub of right and wrong. (Cheers.) Utile** the liberties of the people of this young nation which was being built up in New Zealand were founded upon truth and justice, upon the equal manhood franchise of one-man-one-vote, they must prove disastrous. In such a community as this circumstances at time arose, as at the present juncture, when there was a branching of the roads, and the people were called upon to decide upon which way to go. Sir CcorgoGrey was convinced that, though at times ho was anxious as to the way in which the people would use their power in great moral questions, that the heart of tho people was sound, and that they would give a just verdict. He, Mr. Rees, also felt that the heart of tho people was sound, and he placed himself in their hands with the utmost confidence. (Loud cheers.) In this matter fchere was a principle involved which had attracted attention far and wide, and the next day the wires would flash the verdict of Auckland upon this question of justice and honesty on the one side, or injustice and dishonesty on the other. Mr. Kees resumed his scat amid loud and prolonged applause. INUNDATED WITH QUESTIONS. At this stage the questions camo up in sheaves. Mr. Bees said that there were forty or fifty questions which appeared to have nothing whatever to do with the matter. Even as Mr. Rees spoke tho papers continued to come up in bundles. There were loud cries ot " Put them in tho waste paper basket." Mr. Rees said they would take two or threa hours to answer them. Great uproar ensued in the courso of which one man in the stalls struck another over the head with his umbrella, and created a great tumult for a time. The Chairman ruled, amid crios of "Questions," that it was oub of tho question to ask Mr. Reo* to answer them.

THE RESOLUTION. Amid groat interruptions Mr. Jam EM Scott moved, " That this meeting thanks Mr. Rees for his address, approves of his action in bringing to light matters connected with the Umutaoroa land, and considers him entitled to the confidence of the electors."

Mr. K. J. Carbines seconded.

Mr. Rkes then read the motion to the meeting amid interruptions, and tho Chairman put the question to the vote. Tho motion was carried by a very large majority, though soveral hands were shown against it. The meeting closed with loud and continued cheering for Mr. Rees, and somo counter cheering and groaning for Mr, Cadman.

A WELLINGTON OPINION.

[BY TKLEvIRAI'H. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Thursday.

The Wellington Evening Post of this evening has the following leader on the Rees-Cadman contest : —" Tho Auckland election takes place to-morrow, and great interest, in some quarters amounting to anxiety, is felt us to the result. At first Mr. Kees seemed to have much the best prospect of success, but as the polling day lias drawn nearer Mr. Cadman's chances have improved. The Ministry without daring to take any part openly has been vigorously pulling the strings, and nub rom using all its influence to secure Mr. Cadman's victory. Money has also been plentiful on the one side, while on the other Mr. Rees has had to fight lor his own hand with limited means. Mr. (.'adman's defeat would, in a certain sense, bo as serious a blow to the Ministry as to himself. His late colleagues are in some measure on trial as well as himself. They have everything to lose by his defeat but probably not much to gain by his victory. Mr. Roes' presence in the House would bo very inconvenient to them, and if Mr. Cadman is beaten thai r maim in Auckland will be gone. As to in any way determining the propriety or otherwise of Mr. Cadman's action as Native Minister in connection with the W. C. Smith land translactions, the election is, of course, an absurdity. Tho result of the poll will neither absolve Mr. (adman from tho results of the Napier verdict in the Supreme Court, nor strengthen tho case against him. The Auckland electors are nob a tribunal capable of expressing an intelligent opinion upon tho merits of the case in question. No popular constituency would be competent to do so. Votes will be given bo-morrow on all sorts of grounds and issues, bub very few few indeed will bo influenced by a calm, judicial consideration of the matters raised in the late libel case. The result of tomorrow's eloetion will, we expect, bo a pretty close poll, bub ib will determine nothing, except aa bo who is bo represent Auckland city for the remainder of the prosent Parliament."

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